Post-hole digger.



I W. WANAMAKE R. POST HOLE BIGGER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28. 1910.

1,01 1,682. Patented Dec. 12,1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

WILLIAM WANAMAKER, 0F GARROLLTQN, QHIQ,

POST-HOLE BIGGER.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Application filed March 28, 1910.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Serial No. 551,941.

To all whom it may com-em:

Be it known that I, lVILLrAM WANA- MAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carrollton, in the county of Carroll, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Hole Diggers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to post hole diggers.

One object of the invention is to provide a post hole digger with blades adapted to be rotated to cut the earth, said blades being arranged to permit the earth to be firmly grasped between the same after the cutting process in order that the earth may be removed from the hole.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of novel character for locking the blades in the grasping or closed position.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of a standard or shaft provided with a boring point, cutting and clasping blades, and novel means for connecting said blades and stand ard and moving the same in and out from said standard.

The invention further consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and :Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, the blades being shown fully opened in full lines and closed for grasping the earth in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1 with the blades shown in their raised and folded position. Fig. 3 is a view from the operating end of the device. Fig. a is a detailed sectional view illustrating the squared portion of the shaft and the links movably connected thereto.

The numeral 10 indicates the shaft or standard and the lower end of this shaft is squared as at 11. This squared lower portion terminates in a reduced end 12 whereto are secured boring blades 13 of the well known spiral auger form.

Upon the upper end of the standard is a cross bar or handle 14: and in the lower portion 11 is formed a recess 15, the purpose of. which will be hereinafter explained. Slidably mounted on the squared portion 11 is a yoke 16 at each end of which is pivoted a cutting blade 17 of concavo-convex cross sectional form, the concave sides of the blades being inward. The manner in which these blades are pivoted to the yoke 16 is such that they can swing in and out, from and to the standard. Pivoted within the recess 15 are links 18 the outer ends of which are connected to. suitable lug-s formed on the inner surfaces of the blades 17, being pivoted thereto as at 19. Now, from an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be obvious that as the yoke 16 is moved up and down from the position shown in full lines the links 18 will draw the lower ends of the blades 17 inward, as for instance, if the yoke be moved down to the position shown in dotted lines the blades will assume the position in which they are shown in dotted lines.

In order to move the yoke 16 along the squared portion 11 there is provided upon the standard 10 a sleeve 20 whereto is pivoted a lever 21. On the sleeve 20 is a quadrant 22 and supported on the lever 21 is a latch 23 controlled by the usual latch lever 24. Pivoted to the lever 21 are bars 25 which have their lower ends connected with the yoke 16 as indicated at 26. Now, it will be observed that the movement of the lever 21 up or down causes the yoke 16 to move in like manner and consequently regulates the position of the blades 17.

In the operation of the device the blades are opened as indicated in full lines in Fig. l and the post hole digger set upon the ground in therequired position and rotated by means of the handle 14. This causes the blades 17 to cut around the edges of the post hole while at the same time the auger blades 13 force the digger downward into the ground. When suflicient of the ground has been loosened the lever 21 is moved, by releasing the latch 23, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the earth, or a portion thereof, is clasped between the lower ends of the blades 17 and lifted up. The remainder of the loose earth may be re moved in like manner by inserting the blades spread apart as in full lines and again moving them together, the operation being repeated as often as may be necessary. If the hole is not sufficiently deep with one boring the device may be reinserted and again rotated until a suflicient depth has been obtained.

When it is desired to fold the device for packing away the lever 21 is drawn upward toward the handle 14. This causes the yoke 16 to move upward to the position shown in Fig. 2 and when the lower ends of the blades 17 move inward they will be above the blades 18, the machine thus occupying less space than in any other position. There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In a post hole digger, a standard having a boring device secured to the lower end of the same, a yoke slidably mounted on said standard above said boring device, oppositely disposed cutting blades pivoted to the ends of said yoke to swing to and from the standard, links pivoted to the standard and cutting blades below the yoke to connect said standard and blades, a lever having one end pivoted to the standard above the yoke, a rod pivoted to the central portion of the yoke and extending angularly and connected to the medial portion of the lever whereby the yoke is moved in a vertical direction upon the standard, and locking means to hold said lever in an adjusted position.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM WANAMAKER.

Witnesses:

W. F. THOMPSON, LUCY THOMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

